Not just as a backup, could play as one of the inside forwards behind Graham. Either way, its a no-brainer on a free. The Shrewsbury player Ogogo is on a free too at end of season and unlikely to renew - their key player according to them. Would not be a bad shout if funds are limited.

Just no - no more players in the twilight of their careers looking for a final contract to get rich off. Murphy, Etuhu, Whittingham - which of these were a success?

Oh I would certainly snap someones arm off if we could get money for him, or even just off the books - I just dont see it happening. He will be on tidy wages as one of our more senior players now (in terms of how long he has been here) and he strikes me as someone that would rather keep earning them and then trying to find somewhere to go when out of contract. We did convince Sunderland to buy Steele though, so anything is possible.

Have to agree, firstly, getting rid is not so easy and they are contracted to the club. I would have them around as squad players to give them a chance to earn another contract or see it out. Evans has champs experience as does Samuel (ibelieve though not much?). Evans has put in a few decent performances of late as he has done over the years but due to injuries and whatnot, they have never been consistent. As for Samuel, he seems to have the physical attributes but lacks mentally. i just wouldnt be too hasty with outgoings anyway - dont want to disrupt the core of what brought us up. Strengthen around it and get rid of the more obvious deadwood.

Yep - will be very hard to shift. Might have no choice but to try and utilise him somehow.

Well he would certainly be a fool to turn it down, newly debt-free club with big crowds and presumably a good budget to build a squad to walk that league. We have seen how awful that league is and it just takes a few quality players that can make the difference.

I find it quite a bemusing choice tbh, Appleton, apart from securing promotion from League 2 with Oxford, he has done nothing apart from two very short stints at Blackpool and Rovers and was manager when Portsmouth were relegated from the championship.

Shrews fans have accepted all season that Hurst will likely be elsewhere next season due to how he has performed there. He knows League 1, and think he would be the best option for Sunderland. Ipswich too as he knows how to perform well without a budget. Sunderland being debt free all of a sudden really makes me wish our much wealthier owners took note. Made me feel quite sick reading that knowing our very own situation - I expect their fans will be over the moon though. They will walk League 1 now.

I have thought this for some time. Its almost as if he is a generation too late. 15 years ago he could well be plying his trade in the PL back when front twos were commonplace. Not too disimilar to a Michael Owen type. With one up top being practically the norm these days, small nippy players like him will find it difficult as they do not have the physicality to play the lone role and need a partner. If I were him, I would do my best to learn and master the inside forward role that he has now as getting a striking berth is going to be tough for him.

Well he practically had no value when we signed him after he was out of contract at a relegated Rotherham. He now has a promotion on his CV having been an ever-present in the lineup. Pretty sure thats nailed on increase in value. Big test for him is if he can cope in the championship.

Smallwood would have but you are right. Some think his overall signings have been great but id say average tbh. Dack, Smallwood, Downing (to an extent) from the perms have been positives but Gladwin, Caddis, and Whittingham have been pants and Samuel has been disapointing, so you could say 3 out of 7 which is not that great.. I did not include Bell as its difficult to say as we have not seen enough of him yet. As for loans, you could argue he has done better here with Chapman, Armstrong, Payne and Antonsson at least contributing and being a part of the squad. As for 7.5 million players being the equivalent of 750k players in League 1, you are probably right in terms of proven quality. I still feel that there are plenty of shrewder signings that could be made that would improve on what we already have or compliment it. id rather this than going back to big transfers fees that could do more than good as happened the last time. Would be nice if they could throw 5 mil in though if it was used to pick up 2 or 3 decent players with potential and with future resale value. Then work with out of contracts and loans for the rest.

Bit odd if they dont have cash around - isnt their main business doing better than ever right now? Besides, i thought there were two budgets drawn up, one for Championship and one for league 1? What was it then, fck all and fck all.

Yup, think we should pluck a few from 'down there in L1' (great to be able to say that again). Hungry players that want to progress. Do not think picking up out of contract Championship players is the way to go - if they are not good enough for their clubs, then they are not really good enough for us. There might be some exceptions though - so lets see.

I could spend on day on Twitter seeing the many videos, tweets from players etc. Fantastic stuff.

We've been there and done that with Gallacher. He did look decent in spells but not sure he is what we need. Quite like the look of that 3-5-2, Armstrong upfront with Grahams and Dack behind could be quite lethal.

Good first post - welcome to the board Agree with most of what you have said. Any suggestions? I am more interested in a Graham-like striker to be back up to Graham. Decent at holding up the ball, a good finisher and is smart.

Agree with all of this apart from the bolded part. I think he has looked excellent in parts and its only because of Dack that he has not featured more. The kid has obvious talent and i believe more technical ability than Dack. Dack is a dribbler, a direct kind of guy while this guy is more tactile. Played a big part in Hudds getting promotion the year before. If we can get him in for a good deal, i wouldn't be too disappointed.

Well, yeah highly rated but very young. Dont know too much about him - is he really a striker? With 2 goals in 24 appearances this season, I would hope not.

Forgot Ogogo is out of contract - he would be a decent shout.

he is better going forward than Williams and probably just as good when defending. I agree that its not nailed on that WIlliams will be dropped but I am not sure why we bought him otherwise. League 1 LB of the years, reasonable outlay at that level. Feel he will play a lot more next season - was coveted by Championship clubs before we came calling.

Will also be on big wages having dropped two divisions. Had a very serious injury not so long ago too. Just not sure anyone from Sunderland would be worth the risk financially or ability wise. 25 bit part appearances in the PL, and a season in the championship (not sure if ever present). Smallwood has played 4 or 5 seasons at Championship level and a couple at League 1 level.

Evans is an international...might as well keep him then. Lets put Leutwiller in goal too.

To be fair, he has only played in the Championship with a weak Rotherham side around him. Perhaps the way we set up suits him as well. I would not be writing him off yet. Think he needs quality around him so that his hard-working, undervalued role can be effective.

A striker that can hold the ball up is a must in a formation like the one we are playing. He has to be able to bring the three behind him into play as much as possible. Maybe a younger guy with potential that can grow into the role behind Graham and step when Graham ultimately does call it a day or is moved on. Proper wingers, preferably two of them. Payne back or Otzhumer in on free as backup/to play alongside Dack. Armstrong back as cover for up top and also behind in the three. Midfield needs a shake up. Would give Smallwood a go but need somebody alongside him. Bennett could be that guy but we need other options too. Ideally some decent cover too if Evans does go. Mulgrew and Lenihan is good enough but we need deeper cover. Downing i not sure is up to it at that level and Mulgrew prior to this season has always been a bit injury prone. Counting on Bell to be LB, Williams as cover. As for RB, not sure Nyambe is ready at that level despite improving this season. Would look to get someone in here. Raya deserves to keep his place int he sticks for the season.

Not sure it would, they are renting a flat together and not sure they would be doing the same going forward anyway. Perhaps Dack wants to set up home with his reality TV star. Dack seems to get on well with a bunch of the lads, Graham and Mulgrew for starters as well as some of the younger guys like Smallwood and Chapman. Doubt it would bother him that much if Samuel left.